Hands Off Dankaka’s Mandate” — Northern Women Send Strong Message To APC

A prominent Northern women’s socio-political organisation, Jam'iyyar Matan Arewa, has appealed to the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress to protect the senatorial mandate of Dr. Muheebah Dankaka for Kwara South Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a letter dated May 24, 2026 and addressed to the APC National Chairman in Abuja, the group described Dankaka as the only female senatorial candidate from Northern Nigeria to emerge victorious during the party’s primaries.

The letter, signed by the National President of the group, Hajiya Rabi Musa Saulawa, stated that out of the 109 senatorial seats nationwide, only three women secured APC senatorial tickets, with Dankaka emerging as the sole female candidate from the North.

According to the group, Dankaka’s victory reflected “the strong endorsement of the people” of Kwara South and symbolised renewed hope for greater female representation in the country’s political leadership.

The organisation warned that any attempt to undermine or substitute her candidacy could negatively affect the relationship between Northern women and the ruling party.

The letter partly read, “Any attempt to undermine or substitute her victory will be viewed by Northern women as a painful disregard for their loyalty, sacrifices, and contributions to the growth of the Party.”

The group also recalled its contributions to the APC’s electoral successes in the 2015, 2019 and 2023 general elections through grassroots mobilisation and voter education across the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.

It further urged the APC leadership to adopt policies that would encourage more competent Northern women to occupy elective and appointive positions, especially in the Senate and other strategic offices.

“We further urge the Party to adopt deliberate and sustained measures aimed at raising more competent Northern women for elective and appointive positions,” the letter added.

The group expressed confidence in the leadership of the APC National Working Committee to uphold what it described as the freely given mandate of Dr. Muheebah Dankaka by the people of Kwara South.